SAN FRANCISCO – The Stanford cross-country teams open the season Saturday at the USF Invitational at Golden Gate Park.
The Cardinal men, featuring Sean McGorty, perhaps the nation's top American collegiate long-distance runner, are ranked No. 4 in the coaches' poll after capturing second in 2014 and third last year at the NCAA Championships. The Cardinal women, which return Elise Cranny and feature the nation's top recruiting class are No. 7.
Event: USF Invitational
When: Saturday
Women Race (6K): 9:30 a.m.
Men's Race (8K): 10:15 a.m.
Location: Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadow), Golden Gate Park
Information/Course map: Click here
Live Results: Click here
Notes:
Stanford will not field its best team, or run its best race. The Cardinal typically uses the opener as a workout. Its' freshmen will not run, and the Cardinal runners who participate will do so while attempting to hit the specific splits of a tempo workout. Places are not a high priority for Stanford in this race.
However, expect Will Lauer and Alex Ostberg, redshirt freshmen who captured national high school titles in the 5,000 meters, to make their Stanford debut.
Both Stanford teams, including a vaunted five-member women's freshmen class, reported on Thursday. Four days after the USF Invite, the Cardinal will embark to Mammoth Lakes, on the east side of the Sierra Nevada range, for a 10-day training camp. The season will essentially begin with the Virginia Invitational on Sept. 23 and Stanford Invitational on Oct. 1 at Stanford Golf Course.
The Stanford men have won the USF Invite five times (2004, 2008, 2011-13) and its individual winners are Peter Meindl (2004), Brendan Gregg (2011), and Tyler Stutzman (2012).
The Stanford women are four-time winners (2004-05, 2013-14) and have four individual winners: Anita Siraki (2004), Arianna Lambie (2005), Alicia Follmar (2008), and Aisling Cuffe (2012).
Stanford returns after a one-year hiatus, after competing at the Fresno State Invitational last year. Among the NCAA Division I teams it will face are Cal, CSUN, Pacific, Saint Mary's, San Jose State, Santa Clara, and USF.